Spring Onions

[jo9919]

I sowed some Spring Onions last year and was quite disappointed when I pulled them up and realised that I'd sown a non-bulbing type (I didn't realise the difference when I bought the seed).

This year I've sown White Lisbon which I'm hoping will bulb. I sowed them on 16th March and had a quick look at one of them today, but they don't seem to be bulbing.

Have I don't something wrong with them, or am I too eager? The green at the top looks nice and thick and green.

Jo.

[jo9919]

[tim]

I carefully avoid the bulbing type - using Guardsman & Ramrod!!

But a few of those from last year are bulbing.

[Barnowl]

I've sown a row each of some of the Japanese ones: Ishikuro and Shimonita. The Shimonita is meant to end up looking like a leek.

[attachment=1]

That reminds me - better thin them out soon.

[antipodes]

I have trouble understanding how spring onions work - my packets say sow in August - september for the next year. I sowed but they all seemed to disappear over winter :(
Can someone give some tips?

[shaunster]

sow spring onions like you do salad crops, theyre not meant to have big bulbs anyway and mature pretty quick, spring onions arent for overwintering

[tim]

Ishikuru - in my book- is a very good, pencil type onion.

Shimonita sounds exciting - but a lot of Spring Onion??

PS Just seen last post. Guardsman & Winter Over are winter tolerant. As said, we are still pulling last year's.

[antipodes]

hmm so I should sow in, what, March? And pull up in June, July? I think it was White Lisbon I bought.

[ceres]

I start sowing White Lisbon in January and sow successionally pretty much all year until around October and I leave the last ones in the ground and pull as required over winter.  They are ready anything between 6 and 10 weeks depending on when sown.

[antipodes]

AH Ok. I have obviously failed to understand something along the way with spring onions!!
Maybe I will try sowing a little row now then and see what happens to them...

[tim]

These are the May - June sowings.

One lot is my usual method - sowing in plugs of 10 or so before planting out.

Very few this year - few places without White Rot.

[Robert_Brenchley]

I just stuck a load of surplus sets in. I've got more to go in in the autumn. Scatter them an inch or two apart and they don't take up much space.

[tim]

To use as Spring Onions, Robert?

[Robert_Brenchley]

That's right. They do it perfectly well, and I always manage to buy too many, so I don't want to waste the surplus.

[kt.]

My Oh tells me the ones I sowed beginning of may are just starting to fatten up now.

[RSJK]

Antipodes,  sow spring onions middle of September to stand the winter White Lisbon will stand through winter just as good as the over winter variety's.
Must say Tim I found Guardsman very good Ramrod not so good.
A lot depends on the quality of seed you buy that's why I always buy mine from Moles Seeds a much better grade of seed.

[Robert_Brenchley]

Here are some spring onions I lifted earlier. Perfectly good, as you can see.

[betula]

Oh Robert,what big spring onions you have ;D

[Robert_Brenchley]

They're getting massive now, but so are the ones in the market.

[Crystalmoon]

I havent had much success with the spring onions Ive tried this year (my first attempts).
Ive tried direct sowing at my plot but the awful weather we had after the scorching sun earlier in the year killed most of them off.
I also sowed in tubs & these didnt do well either with spindly growth & very thin ends (no bulbing)...Im using them like chives so there arent being wasted.
I must admit Im not feeling confident about trying again with spring onions from seeds.
Think I will try Robert's suggestion next year.

[tim]

But, Robert ..... those are Shallots? Not Salad Onions?

Splitting hairs but, to me, a big difference in flavour?